In a dramatic late twist to the 2025 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, overall handicap honours have been overturned after the initial winner was penalised for a rules infringement. The coveted Tattersall Cup has been awarded to the double-handed yacht Min River, skippered by Jiang Lin and Alexis Loison.
A Protest and a Penalty: How the Victory Changed Hands
The race committee confirmed on Wednesday that the French-crewed yacht BNC - my::NET / LEON, skippered by Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal, had been handed a time penalty of one hour and five minutes. This penalty was applied for a breach of the race rules relating to the configuration of a sail on the front of the yacht, specifically the use of a spinnaker in an inappropriate manner.
The incident was reportedly photographed just two nautical miles from the finish in Hobart. The penalty overturned BNC's provisional handicap victory, which had seen them finish with a corrected time just 54 minutes ahead of Min River.
Race committee chair Lee Goddard stated the penalty was "absolutely proportionate," noting that while the infringement was not deliberate, the rules had been broken. The decision was made by an international jury following a hearing at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
Historic Win for Min River and Double-Handed Sailing
The ruling elevates Min River to first place in the overall standings, securing a historic victory. The yacht becomes the first double-handed and first woman-skippered vessel to win the Sydney to Hobart's overall handicap title.
Min River's co-skipper, Jiang Lin, named the yacht after the Min River in China, which flows through the province where her parents lived. The yacht only arrived in Sydney in 2023. Her crewmate, Alexis Loison, is a renowned French sailor.
The two yachts at the centre of the protest, both measuring just 35 feet, were among the smallest in the 128-strong fleet and showcased the gruelling challenge of double-handed ocean racing.
Déjà Vu for the Race and a Tough Edition
This is not the first time a post-race penalty has decided a major trophy in this iconic race. In a famous precedent, Wild Oats XI lost line honours in 2017 after receiving a one-hour penalty for a start-line incident.
The 80th edition of the race proved exceptionally tough, with more than a quarter of the fleet forced to retire during brutal early upwind conditions. Supermaxi Master Lock Comanche claimed line honours on Sunday after a fierce battle off Tasmania's coast.
BNC's crew, which includes 1988 Olympic windsurfer Michel Quintin, had celebrated their initial victory dockside on Tuesday after a challenging four-night voyage that saw them lose wind detection instruments crossing the Bass Strait. Five yachts remained at sea on Wednesday, with the tail-ender not due to finish until Saturday.
